The difference between atheism and anti-theism.

Joe1919

Many agnostics and atheists can have sympathy for religion and see the value in religious beliefs, even if they are unsure themselves about their own belief.

There is a difference between atheism and anti-theism. e.g.

http://atheism.about.com/od/atheismatheiststheism/a/AntiTheism.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitheism

lynski

and your point?

Handsome Bob

I know very few atheists who would have sympathy for religion.

iUseVi

I'd say its a small percentage of atheists that see any value in religious beliefs.

Joe1919

LZ5by5 wrote: »

I know very few atheists who would have sympathy for religion.

Daniel Dennett seems to disagree in that he devotes a chapter in his 'Breaking the spell' book to 'belief in belief'. Also on video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN8BHD9sXJ8

I am inclined to agree with Dennett in believing that many people belief in the belief in god but do not actually believe.

Stercus Accidit

Joe1919 wrote: »

Many agnostics and atheists can have sympathy for religion and see the value in religious beliefs, even if they are unsure themselves about their own belief.

There is a difference between atheism and anti-theism. e.g.

http://atheism.about.com/od/atheismatheiststheism/a/AntiTheism.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitheism

Do you mean agnostics and atheists in general or am I reading this wrong?

strobe

Man, where did I put my Jesus face palm meme????? God damn you microsoft ****ing seven!!!

Dades

As far as I can see, Joe1919 is only making a point.

We have seen assumptions from both sides recently that atheism = anti-theism which is not a given at all.

Joe1919

Stercus Accidit wrote: »

Do you mean agnostics and atheists in general or am I reading this wrong?

I would think that many parents for example often 'go with the flow' in terms of bringing up their children in terms of baptisms etc. They may see a religious belief as a good thing for their child although they themselves do not have this belief.
They may have a 'belief in the belief' and indeed consider themselves as believers although in another sense and strictly speaking, they are not.

Indeed, in my view, the boundaries between belief and non-belief are far from clear, because it is far from clear what it 'is' that makes one a believer or not. It could be argued then that in some/many cases, we are more talking about commitment to a belief than the actual belief itself. (As Dennett may argue)

PS I am trying to avoid being too general because beliefs are also individual.

Ickle Magoo

Would a believer not just be someone who believes? I don't think agreeing that not murdering and stealing from those around us makes people any closer to being theists.

I'm not sure what you mean by commitment to belief rather than the belief itself? I'm sure there are a lot of people who aren't fiercely religious but follow some of the basic tenets of their religion - but it's their belief in a god that defines them as theist, rather than their religious fervour. In much the same way as an atheist lacks belief in god or agnostic says we cannot know one way or the other whether a god exists, religion doesn't come into it with regards to those terminologies.

bnt

The way I see it, to "atheism" is a description, not a prescription. It describes a state: the state of not believing in even the concept of religion. Animals and newborn babies are atheists, under this definition. Someone asks you about religion, and your response is "huh?"

To be anti-theist is a prescription - that is, it affects the actions you will take and the things you will say. Someone asks you about religion, and your response is "Do Not Want". :pac:

I think I have bits of both. I could go around blithely unaware of religion in the world. I can even appreciate religious music as art, or churches as architecture. However, when I hear the words of the songs, or hear about some of the goings-on in the vestibules of churches, I have some difficulty remaining entirely neutral. The answer depends on the question.